[DeTomaso] possibility for after-Spa weekend

[Charles McCall]

Charlie,

 

Do you work for an American company?

My impression is that most European countries are socialist welfare states
where everyone gets 6 wks of paid vacation, even if you just started work
last week as a dishwasher. :-)

****That's pretty much the way it works. The first 7 years I lived in
Europe, I worked for an American company and had my meager 2 weeks of
vacation per year. My US boss called to check up on me in August, and I
literally was the only person in the plant for a 3 week period each summer.
It was the biggest waste of time, but at least I got to surf the web, read
the PI forum, read books, etc. But there was literally nothing for me to do.


 

I've been working for a Spanish company for the last 6 years. My first year,
like all recent incorporations, I had my 5 weeks of vacation. Dishwashers,
cleaning ladies, CEOs.. they all start with 5 weeks of vacation. The only
snag is that in many cases (like mine) I don't have all that much
flexibility. Company policy states that 4 of the 5 weeks I need to take in
August. I bend the rules a little to take a week each year to go play with
cars (Le Mans, Spa Italia, etc), 3 weeks in August, and a week in December
for Christmas. Although my position gives me an extra week of vacation per
year (6 total) which I typically take in December, further bending the
rules. 

 

July/August in Europe is really magical - most countries basically shut down
and go on vacation! It's the subject of a much longer and somewhat
philosophical debate, but the European economy in general (and European
salaries) can't compete directly with the US because we spend a month and a
half being paid to stay home. On the other hand, the quality of life is in a
different category altogether, due to having the time to stop and smell the
roses. 

 

As far as the socialist welfare state question, as someone who was raised as
a good capitalist, it's an interesting experience. In the US, calling
someone a communist is an insult. Here, communist parties have significant
followings in many countries. And the socialists are in power in many
places. In my case, it has helped demonstrate in practice what happens if
you have too much of a safety net. Why do we pay $8 a gallon for gas? Those
are taxes. Social benefits aren't free, after all. Why is our sales tax at
16% or 21%? Ditto. Need to pay for the sister of your exhange student after
all. Isn't her fault now, is it? 

 

The sister of our exchange student got preggers w/o husband at 19 and the
German government gave her money to buy furniture for her rent-free apt,
etc, etc.

 

I imagine Roland has some feelings about that.  :-)

 

Jim

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Charles McCall <charlesmccall at gmail.com>
To: MikeLDrew at aol.com; pantdino at aol.com; detomaso at realbig.com
Sent: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 11:34 am
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] possibility for after-Spa weekend

Life's a bitch. I'll think of them while I'm back at work. 
 
 
 
Charles McCall
 
1985 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S #9375
 
"Raising Pantera Awareness Across Europe"
 
 <http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=2323>
http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=2323
 
  _____  
 
De: MikeLDrew at aol.com [mailto:MikeLDrew at aol.com <mailto:MikeLDrew at aol.com?>
] 
Enviado el: domingo, 09 de enero de 2011 20:32
Para: charlesmccall at gmail.com; pantdino at aol.com; detomaso at realbig.com
Asunto: Re: [DeTomaso] possibility for after-Spa weekend
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 1/9/11 11 29 43, charlesmccall at gmail.com writes:
 
 
 
 
 
The weekend after Spa is the Le Mans 24 hour race. Sounds like there are
quite a few events that weekend
 
 
 
Yes, I think most of the Brits are planning on retiring straight to their
country resort hotel north of Le Mans, after the Spa event, and camping out
there for the week leading up to the race. :>)
 
Mike
 
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